Install a Squad server

Step-by-step installation

1. 1

   Prepare a 64-bit machine with a fast CPU, enough RAM and an SSD.

2. 2

   Install SteamCMD and download app 403240 with an anonymous login.

3. 3

   Generate Server.cfg with the site's tool; create Admins.cfg and Rcon.cfg in SquadGame/ServerConfig.

4. 4

   Start SquadGameServer with Port, QueryPort, RCONPORT and FIXEDMAXPLAYERS.

5. 5

   Open 7787/UDP, 27165/UDP and, if needed, 21114/TCP (RCON) wherever traffic is filtered.

6. 6

   Set up the rotation (LevelRotation.cfg or LayerRotation.cfg) and MapRotationMode.

7. 7

   Create a systemd service (Linux) or a scheduled task (Windows).

8. 8

   Schedule updates, configuration backups and a restart.

9. 9

   Test from outside, then list the server on game-rank.com.

Requirements

64-bit Windows or Linux. No account or licence is needed to host (anonymous login). The sources consulted give no official minimum: plan a fast single-thread CPU, 16 GB of RAM or more for an 80-100 player server, an SSD (the game takes several dozen GB) and good upstream bandwidth. Server and client versions must match.

Local install (Windows)

With SteamCMD (Valve), install the server then start it; connect from the game through the console (¬/` key) with open 127.0.0.1:7787.

steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\SquadServer +login anonymous +app_update 403240 validate +quit

cd /d C:\SquadServer
SquadGameServer.exe Port=7787 QueryPort=27165 RCONPORT=21114 FIXEDMAXPLAYERS=80 -log

Install on a Linux VPS / dedicated server

On Ubuntu/Debian, create a non-root user, install SteamCMD (Debian: enable “non-free” first), download the server and start it.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository -y multiverse && sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 && sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y steamcmd lib32gcc-s1 ca-certificates
sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" squad

First start

As the dedicated user, install the server and start SquadGameServer.sh with the ports you want.

sudo -iu squad
mkdir -p ~/server && /usr/games/steamcmd +force_install_dir ~/server +login anonymous +app_update 403240 validate +quit
cd ~/server && ./SquadGameServer.sh Port=7787 QueryPort=27165 RCONPORT=21114 FIXEDMAXPLAYERS=80

Ports to open

Defaults from hosting guides (the official documentation could not be consulted); change them with Port=, QueryPort= and RCONPORT= at launch. Rcon.cfg also holds an RCON port.

• 7787/UDP — game
• 27165/UDP — Steam query (server list)
• 21114/TCP — RCON (optional, protect it)

Linux firewall (ufw)

sudo ufw allow 7787/udp
sudo ufw allow 27165/udp
sudo ufw allow 21114/tcp
sudo ufw status verbose

Windows firewall (netsh)

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Squad 7787 UDP" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=7787
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Squad 27165 UDP" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=27165
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Squad 21114 TCP" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=21114

Provider firewall and home router (NAT)

At OVH, Hetzner, Scaleway and similar providers, also open the same ports in the provider firewall (security group / panel firewall): it filters before the machine. For home hosting, create a NAT (port forward) rule on your router for each port to the server's local IP, with the right protocol. Test from outside (mobile network); never expose administration ports (RCON) without a strong password.

Automatic start (systemd)

Save this file as /etc/systemd/system/squad.service then: sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo systemctl enable --now squad. Logs: journalctl -u squad -f. On Windows, create a scheduled task at startup running SquadGameServer.exe.

[Unit]
Description=Squad server
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=squad
WorkingDirectory=/home/squad/server
ExecStart=/home/squad/server/SquadGameServer.sh Port=7787 QueryPort=27165 RCONPORT=21114 FIXEDMAXPLAYERS=80
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=15
LimitNOFILE=100000

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Updates

Stop the service, rerun app_update and restart. Client and server must be on the same version: update the server after every game patch.

sudo systemctl stop squad
sudo -u squad /usr/games/steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/squad/server +login anonymous +app_update 403240 validate +quit
sudo systemctl start squad

Backups and scheduled restarts

Back up the SquadGame/ServerConfig folder (Server.cfg, Admins.cfg, Rcon.cfg, rotation files) and schedule a daily restart (here 05:00, backup at 04:55).

# crontab -e (root)
55 4 * * * tar czf /var/backups/squad-$(date +\%F).tgz -C /home/squad/server/SquadGame ServerConfig
0 5 * * * systemctl restart squad

Listing and finding your server

Once the server is reachable from outside, add it on game-rank.com/jeux/squad (the owner's site) so players can discover it.

Troubleshooting

• Server not in the list: 27165/UDP closed, or a QueryPort different from the one opened in the firewall.
• Can't connect from outside: 7787/UDP not open (system, provider, NAT); UDP is required, not TCP.
• Version mismatch: the server wasn't updated after a patch — rerun app_update.
• Server.cfg changes are ignored: the file was edited while the server was running (or overwritten) — stop the server before editing.
• Can't use RCON: no password in Rcon.cfg or 21114/TCP blocked; only expose this port to your admin tools.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to own Squad to host?

No: the dedicated server (app 403240) downloads with an anonymous SteamCMD login.

How do I add admins?

In Admins.cfg: a Group=Name:permissions line (e.g. Group=Moderator:chat,kick,cameraman) then Admin=<SteamID64>:Name.

What are the default ports?

7787/UDP (game), 27165/UDP (query) and 21114/TCP (RCON), per hosting guides; adjustable at launch.

Do I need to restart after editing Server.cfg?

Yes: stop the server before editing, then restart to apply.